The Wüstenrot Campus Project in Virtual Reality
At Studio Merkas, we take pride in translating not only creative ideas but also forward-looking technologies into tangible real-world applications. A prime example of this is our collaboration with Wüstenrot — a project that became reality before a single brick was laid: as a fully explorable VR experience.
A Virtual Campus for 4,000 Employees
The new Wüstenrot campus in Kornwestheim is set to house up to 4,000 employees. But before a single component was built, decision-makers, architects and designers were already able to explore the entire site in virtual reality — brought to life by our team at Studio Merkas.
Based on detailed BIM data, we recreated the entire campus in Unreal Engine. Buildings, pathways, interior architecture and circulation routes — everything was virtually explorable and served as a central tool for architectural planning.
Working closely with the architects and interior designers, we tested various spatial concepts, incorporated design proposals and visualised optimisation potential in real time — walkable, interactive and intuitive.
From Prototype to Multi-Platform App
What began as a VR prototype quickly evolved further. From the central Unreal model, three standalone applications were developed:
High-End VR Experience
The most comprehensive variant, realised with Unreal Engine on a high-performance gaming PC, enabled high-resolution real-time rendering with freedom of movement and full interactivity.
Oculus Go Version
For lighter hardware, we developed an adapted version featuring pre-rendered scenes, optimised for mobile VR use while maintaining clarity and comprehensibility.
iPad App
For presentations without a VR headset, a further variant was created — a lightweight iPad application that presents the key aspects of the campus project in a clear and compact visual format.
Visitors experience the W&W Campus as an interactive VR application — vivid, intuitive and presented on the go.
The Creative Process: Collaboration as the Key
From the initial idea to the final prototype, the project was defined by close coordination with all stakeholders. Using VR as a planning instrument enabled an entirely new quality of decision-making — and the experience was also presented personally to the Wüstenrot board of directors. The feedback? Unanimously positive.
The Result: Architectural Planning with a Wow Factor
The project not only set new benchmarks in visualisation and user guidance, but also demonstrated impressively how immersive technologies can sustainably improve traditional planning processes.
We are proud to have realised the Wüstenrot Campus project — a project that connects visionary ideas with concrete value, and shows what becomes possible when technology and architecture go hand in hand.
Outlook: More Than Just Planning
The success of the Wüstenrot VR project makes one thing clear: virtual reality is not a gimmick, but a serious tool in the planning of complex construction projects. At Studio Merkas, we see this as just the beginning — and we look forward to transforming visionary architectural projects into immersive experiences in the future.
Reference
We collaborated with Nikola Merkas in the field of VR — in parallel with the construction of the W&W Campus, our new company headquarters, the campus was recreated as a VR model. This was used in various forms for internal communication and contributed significantly to the change management process. The collaboration with Mr Merkas and his team was constructive and pleasant, the quality of the work convinced us — and so did the result.
Claudia Bernecker
Project Management
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